Collapsible mop



Aug. 18, 1953 o. A. FLAGSTAD 2,648,359

COLLAPSIBLE MOP Filed May 1, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 1 OSCAR A. FLAGSTAD 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwumvboa OSCAR A. FLAGSTAD,

O. A. FLAGSTAD COLLAPSIBLE MOP Aug. 18, 1953 Filed May 1, 1946 FIE 4 FIE E:

O. A. FLAGSTAD COLLAPSIBLE MOP Aug. 18, 1953 Filed May 1', 1946 I, 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE MOP Oscar A. Fl'agstad, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application May 1, 1946, Serial No. 666,500

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in cleaning and polishing elements such as used for mopping and polishing floors, cleaning walls and woodwork and like operations about the home. While the device according to my invention will have all such uses it is hereinafter termed merely a mop as a convenience in description.

The present invention relates more particularly to improvements. in the mop disclosed in my'prior U. S. Patent No. 1,802,889 issued April 28, 1931, and the primary object is to provide a. mop which is simpler and less expensive in construction and assembly. more conveniently operated and used, and heater in appearance. Another object is to provide a mop in which the'cleaning element itself is more readily and positively attachable to the frame and which is'so constructed as toallow the use-of the very desirable yarn type of cleaning element rather than only the common rag type as used in my previously patented mop. Another object is to provide an improved mop assembly which will greatlyfacilitate the cleansing or'washing of the'mop. element. Still another object is to provide a waxing attachment for the mop which is simplainexpensive and convenient and-makes the single-mop. head or frame useful not only for wet mopping, dry ordust mopping but also for waxing.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig; 1 is a side'el'evationof my improved mopidworking position, and showing a dry or dust mop element.

Fig. 2: is a plan view but illustrating a wet-mop.

Fig; 3' is'a side elevation shcwingthe mop of Fig; 2 in avfolded or collapsed position and illustrating the manner in which the wet mop element, after being cleansed, maybe wrung out through thesqueegee rollers of a. mop pail.

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views, on a reduced scale, of the dry and wet mop elements respectively, removed from the mop head or frame,

Fig. 6 is-avertical cross sectional view through one end of the mop along the line G.--6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a side view of the men using the wet mop element, illustrating its washing action in, connection with a-mop. nail, the pail beingv shown'partially' in section and partially in elevation.

Figw 8 is a fragmentary side elevation; partially .jacent edges of the members H.

broken away and in section, of a waxing attachment for my mop.

Referring now to the drawing more particularly and by reference characters I show therein a mop comprising a handle [0 upon the lower end of which is clamped a bracket device made up of opposed socket forming bracket members H shaped to fit opposite sides of the handle and clamped together thereupon by screws l3:

passing through outwardly turned ears 14. The lower ends of the members II have wide outwardly turnedears or'plates I5 through which screws or rivets l6 are-passed to hold them together. The loweredges of the ears are rolled to form loops or beads I1 forming pivot bearings for the inner adjacent ends of a pair of oppositely disposed rectangular wire frames Hi. The side bars of the frames [8 are connected by comparatively thin metal'plates I9 the ends of which are rolled around the frames, as -in dicatedat 20, fastening the plates adjacent the inner ends of theframes.

Outwardly of the plates l9 narrow strips 2| are also secured across the frames I8 and are rolled at their ends at 22 about the side bars thereof. The edges of the strips 2| nextto the plates [9 are formed with beads 23.for"anchoring cross pins 24 and further areextended in the form of the ears .25 over the plates [9 and riveted thereto at 26 to permanently anchor these parts together. Jogs or offsetsZl (Fig. 2) formed in the side bars of the frames 98 then serve to hold the assemblies at the inner ends of the frames against the outward pull of the mop element when it is applied to the frames.

The lowerends of a pair of links 28 arepivotally attached at the centersof the pins-24 and the upper ends of these links are positioned between and pivoted uponcross bolts or pins 29 connecting the ends of a pair of cross arms or equalizers 3D. A pin 3| 'joins the centers of the arms 30 and passesloosely through slots 32 in the-opposite sides of the bracket device, said slots being formed by properly spacing the ad- The arms 3!! may rock upon the pin 3| and the pin may. move up and down in theslot, it being understood that the lower end of the handle H1 terminates slightly above the upper ends of'the slots 32 to clear the pin.

The pin 3| and cross arms 3|) are vertically adjustable, or positionable in a direction lengthwise of the handle, by apair of links 33, at opposite sides of theihandle axis, pivotally secured at their upper ends to theextremities of the pin 3| and at their lower ends pivotally attached at 34 to a pair of levers 35. The lower ends of the levers 35, below the pivots 34, are pivotally attached at 36 to brackets 31 secured on one side of the outwardly extending ears [5, by the aforesaid screws or rivets I5. The upper ends of the levers are rigidly connected at 38 to the ends of a yoke member 39 which is shaped to and normally straddles the handle above the tapes II. I

The foregoing mechanism comprises the mop head or frame and is used in connection with a rectangular, elongated cleaning element or mop per se, which for use as a dry or dust mop comprises a fabric backing strip 40 of a length such as to fit endwise beneath the wire frames I8 and up over the outer ends thereof back beneath the plates IS. The width of this strip or backing 46 may be slightly less than that of the frames l8 and adjacent its ends the strip has cross loops, straps or looped tabs 4| sewed in place adapted to slide over the side bars of the frames and hold the backing to the frames near their outer ends. The plates 19 have transversely extending slots 42 and the end extremities of the backing strip 46 are gathered in and looped around anchor pins 43 having looped and widened ends 4 4 to hold them in place, as clearly shown, The arrangement is such that in placing the cleaning element on the mop head these pins 43, and of course the attached ends of the backing 49 may be worked up through the slots 42 and the widened ends 44 of the pins will then oppositely overlie the margins of the slots to firmly hold the cleaning element in place. On the other hand, and by suitable manipulation, the pins 43 may be worked down through the slots to re lease the cleaning element.

The backing strip has yarn ends or thrums 45 sewed into its intended lower side for the usual purpose and as best seenin Figs. 1-4 these yarn thrums extend also up and around one end of the mop to facilitate certain cleaning operations.

For wet mopping I also provide a mop element 46 in the form of a piece of suitable length and shape of very coarsely'woven fabric, provided with tabs or sleeves 41 to engage the sides of the frames [3 as previously described looped at its ends around pins 48 identical to the pins 43. This mo element may be readily substituted for the dry mop element whenever desired, as will be apparent. V

In use with either mop element and with the levers 35 swung upwardly to the position of Fig. l the cross arms 36 will be forced upwardly holding the frames 18 in outwardly projecting or outspread positions. When force is exerted 'on the handle l6 then the inner ends of the frames I3 will be pushed down (Fig. 1) providing substantially even pressure the full length of the mop as it is used. It will be noted that the pivots 34 in this working position of the mop, with the yoke 39 engaging handle i6, move slightly past dead center position with respect to the pivots 36 and 3| so that the mop will maintain such position under all usual conditions. The mop handle may, as will be readily apparent, be swung to any angle while the mop is in use. I

To clean the mop, either by shaking it'in the case of a dust mop or by washing and wringing it in a mop pail when the wet mop is being used, the yoke 39 is grasped and pulled out causing the links 33 and levers 35 to unfold and allowing the frames l8 to fall or swing downwardly at their outer ends as seen in Fig. 3. The mop element then hangs in a loose loop with all but its ends free for manipulation as it is cleaned.

My present mop has a distinct advantage in that thorough washing of the mop element is greatly facilitated by a novel action of the mop frame as will now be described. Referring to Fig. '7 I show the mop with the wet mop element 46 loosened and dropped-into the water. in a conventional mop pail 49.' ,Said pail has the usual fixed roller 50 and movable roller 51 forming a wringer for the mop, the latter roller normally standing well away from roller 56 but being movable theretoward by the usual foot treadle mechanism 52. In washing the mop the levers 35 are rested upon the roller 56 with the yoke 39 hooked thereover and by then merely working the handle l0 up and down the levers 35 and links 33 will be actuated to alternately spread and close the wire frames [8. This results in a flapping, opening and closing action of themop wings, as the frames 18 may be called, and an" alternate folding and unfolding of the mop ele-' ment 46 in the water as a result of which a thorough agitation of the element is obtained quite like that to which it might be subject in" the ordinary clothes'wash'er. All parts of the mop element are thus thoroughly and readily.

washed and at the completion of the washing the roller 5| may be moved over to engage the mop element just below the frame, as seen in Fig. 3,-1 whereupon as the mop is pulled up the water will" be forced out by the squeegee action of the rollers 56-5l. It is thus seen that the levers 35 not only serve as means for folding and unfolding the mop but also as actuators for washing the. mop element. Likewise the yoke member 39 acts not only as a stop for engaging the mop handle when the mop is in use but as a catch for holding. the lever in place as the mop handle is movedup and down in washing the mop element.

a In the case of the dry or dust mop, the mop" element may be cleaned of accumulated" dust'and'j lint merely by shaking the" mop in its unfolded:

position, causing the frames l8 to go through a bird-wing flapping action such asto' beat the back of the mop element togetherand thor-' oughly clean it. Whenever necessary the drymop element may also be thoroughly-washed in the same manner as the wet mop and then hu up to dry and rewaxed or oiled for further use.

Ordinarily a dry mop must be washed, if at all; in the clothes machine in order to thoroughly clean it and since most housewives do not like to do this, the mop is frequently discarded when washing is needed. However, due to the e1fi-' ciency and convenience of my washing action as described above the mop may be very thoroughly washed inthe ordinary mop pail and it is believed a substantial saving in expense and matements of my prior Patent No. 1,802,889. Thus I attain more even distribution of pressure to the mop, particularly transversely, and prevent any tendency toward twisting of theparts.

The slots 42 for the ends of the mop elements "46 and 46 constitute socket means for the engage-1 ment of the lock elements or pins 43 and 48 on the ends of these mop elements. The arrangement is obviously such that a very secure fastening may.

be obtained and one which maybe readily disconaeeeezse the full efficiency of the mop and which will all properly fit the mop head, rather than. to use makeshift mop elements which may be impractical or ill fitting.

Referring to Fig. 8 I show therein a waxing attachment which may be substituted for the mop elements 40 or 46 where waxing is to be done and which. .thus makes my mop frame even more versatile. This waxing attachment comprises a heavy metal plate 53 of a shape and size nicely to fit under the outspread frames l8 and provide sufiicient weight for easy waxing. A wooden pad 54 of similar size is placed below the plate 53 and the ends 55' of a felt waxing cloth or the like '6, passing lengthwise beneath the pad 54, is gripped between the ends of the pad and plate. Screws 5'! pass upwardly through the pad and plate and these parts may be firmly fastened: together by nuts 58 in upper ends of these screws. The screws 51 further are so located that clips 59 may be placed on their upper ends and engaged over the frames 18 and drawn tight by wing units 60. Thus the waxer may be readily attached to, or detached from the mop head, and when not in use may be readily stored away and will occupy but a small space. Thus storage, as contrasted to the. usual special waxer with its own handle and frame, is greatly facilitated, and the expense is likewise reduced.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the. structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A mop comprising a handle and a collapsible head for holding a cleaning element, a metal member secured to the handle and having an elongated slot opening through opposite sides, the said head comprising a pair of frames pivoted at adjacent ends to the end of the metal member for flapping motions in cleaning the cleaning element, a pair of spaced equalizer bars disposed at opposite sides of the metal member and a pin connecting said bars and slidably mounted through the said slot, links pivotally connected between the ends of the equalizer bars and pivoted to the said frames at points spaced from the ends thereof, and means for releasably holding the pin l against movement lengthwise of the slot to thereby hold the frames against flapping motion when the mop is in use.

2. A collapsible mop head for a mop handle and for holding a cleaning element, said mop head comprising a metal socket member adapted to be secured to the mop handle and said mem ber having an elongated slot extending lengthwise of and opening through opposite sides of the member, a pair of frames having means for connection to the cleaning element, means pivoting the frames to said socket member at the lower end thereof for swinging movements from substantially parallel to aligned positions with respect to each other, equalizer bars positioned at opposite sides of the socket member, a pin extending through and slidable in said slot, the said equalizer bars being mounted on opposite ends of the pin, links pivotally connected to the equalizer bars and pivoted to the frames at points 6. spaced from the pivots of the latter, and locking means for locking" the pin against movement lengthwise of the slot to hold the frames in substantially aligned positions when the mop is in use.

3; A collapsible mop head for amophandle and for holding a cleaning element, said mop head comprising a metal socket member adapted to bese'cured tothe mop handle: and said member having a longitudinal. slot opening through opposite sides of the member, a pair of frames for cormecti'on to the cleaning element, means pivoting the frames to said socket member adjacent the lower end thereof for swinging movements fr'om substantiall y parallel to aligned positions with respect to each other, equalizer bars positioned at oppositesides of the socket member, a pin extending through and slidable in said slot, the said equalizer bars being mounted on opposite endsof the pin, links pivotally connected between the equalizer bars and pivoted to the-frames at points spaced from the pivots of the latter, a lever pivoted to the socket member for swinging movements in a plane parallel to the motion of the frames, and means connecting the lever and equalizer bars for moving the latter and theattached links and swinging the frames. t. A collapsible mop head for a mop handle and for holding a cleaning element, said head comprising a metal socket member adapted to be secured to the mop handle and said member having an elongated longitudinal slot opening through opposite sides of the member, a pair of frames having means for connection to the cleaning element, means pivoting the frames to said socket member adjacent the lower end thereof for swinging movements from substantially parallel to aligned positions with respect to each other, equalizer bars positioned at opposite sides of the socket member, a pin extending through and slidable in said slot, thesaid equalizer bars being mounted on opposite ends of the pin, links pivotally connected to the equalizer bars and pivoted to the frames at points spaced from the pivots of the latter, a lever pivoted to the socket member for swinging movements in. a plane parallel to the motion of the frames, and links connecting the lever to the ends of the pin for moving the latter in the slot and swinging the frames.

5. In a collapsible mop head for a mop handle and having means for holding a cleaning element, a metal socket member adapted to be secured to the mop handle and said member having an elongated longitudinally extending slot opening through opposite sides of the member, a pair of frames, means pivoting the frames to said socket member adjacent the lower end thereof for swinging movements from substantially parallel to aligned positions with respect to each other, equalizer bars positioned at opposite sides of the socket member, a pin extending through and slidable in said slot, the said equalizer bars being mounted on opposite ends of the pin, links pivotally connected to the equalizer bars and pivoted to the frames at points spaced from the pivots of the latter, a lever pivoted at one end to the socket member for swinging movements at its other end in a plane parallel to the swinging movements of the frames, links connected to the pin and to the lever between the ends of the latter, and the lever having means at its said other end for engagement over a part of a mop bucket whereby endwise movements of the mop handle will swing the lever and through the equalizer bars and links swing the frames for cleansing the cleaning element in said bucket.

6. A collapsible mop head for a mop handle and for holding a cleaning element, said mop head comprising a metal socket member adapted to be secured to the mop handle and said member having an elongated longitudinally extending slot opening through opposite sides of the member, a pair of frames having means for connection to the cleaning element, means pivoting the frames to said socket member adjacent the lower end thereof for swinging movements from substantially parallel to aligned positions with respect to each other, equalizer bars positioned at opposite sides of the socket member, a. pin extending through and slidable in said slot, the said equalizer bars being mounted on opposite ends of the pin, links pivotally connected to the equalizer bars and pivoted to the frames at points spaced from the pivots of the latter, levers pivoted at one end to opposite sides of the socket member for swinging movements at their other ends in planes parallel to the motion of the frames, links pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the pin and to the levers, and a member connecting said 5 other ends of the levers and shaped to fit partially around the mop handle.

OSCAR A. FLAGSTAD.

References Cited in the file of this patent 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 20 Number Name Date Van Alstyne Dec. 21, 1915 Grant Apr. 4, 1916 Duncan Feb. 19, 1918 Grant 1 Mar. 19, 1918 Bandet June 29, 1920 OBrien Sept. 6, 1921 Bonsall Oct. 4, 1921 McKeever Apr. 3, 1923 Beaudet Feb. 17, 1925 Saul Feb. 22, 1927 Wellington Sept. 17, 1929 Flagstad Apr. 28, 1931 Schulman July 14, 1931 Halsey Apr. 16, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Sweden Mar. 19, 1926 Great Britain Feb. 24, 1919 Great Britain Jan. 31, 1928 Germany Apr. 27, 1934 

